Corporate Synergies is a modestly epic 14-part space opera of questionable ethics and dubious morality centred on the ongoing conflict between two mega-corporations and their quest to dominate the retail landscape of Earth’s ever-expanding colonial reach.

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3

HUMAN RESOURCES III

“We have here our standard contract for a five-year term with the Emerging Markets Division,” said Dietrich, taking a third tablet out of his attaché case and handing it to Molly.  The screen was full of tiny, dense text.  “An entry level position, but excellent opportunity for upward mobility.”

“You’ll also note a section regarding media and likeness rights,” added Cabbori.  “Through its broadcast media arm, UniRe has begun production on a reality television series focusing on the men and women serving in the EMD.  Our toy division, as you may be aware as a teacher, produces action figures and playsets based on the EMD.”

Molly nodded.

“UniRe Space Heroes.”

She’d seen them in the stores, both the cheaper, child-centric line of 1:18 scale figures and accessories as well as the so-called ‘Gold Series’ of incredibly detailed 1:12 scale collector figures.

“Exactly.  By signing this contract, you agree to participation in the filming of the reality series and that UniRe and its subsidiaries have exclusive rights to marketing your likeness for the entirety of your employment with the corporate family, including but not limited to advertising material, toys and internal corporate messages.  Do you understand?”

She wasn’t entirely convinced that she did understand, but she nodded anyway.

“Good.  Now, let’s talk about the details of the agreement.”

Molly found it a little hard to concentrate as Dietrich went over the fine print of her contract, but she signed happily on the screen and provided a retinal scan and blood sample as required.  It was, after all, what she had gone there to do and whatever the terms of the contract it was going to be better than debtors jail.  That aside, the one section of the contract she did understand – the one she’d actually researched before the meeting – was how the five years of service would affect her debt.

Of course the deal was weighted in favour of UniRe, they weren’t a charity.  But at day one of service and for every year after that Molly remained in service with the EMD, UniRe would write off twelve percent of her debt.  That meant by the end of her five years, she would only owe a maximum of forty percent of the debt Rudy had left her holding.

It was still a bigger chunk that she would have liked, but it would be more than manageable.  And there was always the chance that she actually liked the work and continued on with UniRe after the five years – in which case she would be eligible to sign up for another debt-reduction contract.

“Now,” said Cabbori.  “As I’m sure you know, the Emerging Markets Division is a core component of UniRe operations.  You’ll of course learn more in NE-OP — your new employee orientation program, but we’d be happy to answer any questions you have right now.”

“Um.  Okay.  So, since it’s like a private army-.”

“Oh no, no, no, no,” said Cabbori and Dietrich, almost in perfect unison.

“We don’t use that word,” said Cabbori.

“Emerging Markets is a specialized asset acquisition and retention division of UniRe,” said Dietrich.

“Okay,” said Molly.  “I just… I’ve never fired a gun before.  I’m going to need to have a gun, right?”

Dietrich nodded, but still seemed uncomfortable with the terminology she was using.

“As part of your Aegis Personal Defense System™ you will be assigned a UniRe UniMag Lightning©.”

“It’s the standard automatic rifle of the EMD, simple to use and very reliable,” explained Cabbori.

“Zero warranty issues in the last fiscal year,” said Dietrich, proudly.

“And you’ll also receive our new standard sidearm, the UniRe Quickdraw 15 – patent pending.”

Molly simply nodded.  The details were zooming straight over her head, but she pretended to be impressed when Cabbori and Dietrich seemed impressed and did her best to fake recognition and understanding of the guns and the defense system and everything else they mentioned.  If this was the simple, straightforward pitch that would become more detailed – and probably more complicated – during her… what did they call it?  NE-OP?  She thought that was right, but she wasn’t sure simply due to the volume of information being thrown at her.  So, if this was the simple version, her orientation program looked to be a whirlwind of barely-retained information.

The feeling of information overload, of swimming in facts and details that she just couldn’t seem to wrap her head around, reminded Molly of her first day of university, of sitting in a massive lecture hall with a thousand other stupid young kids listening to professors and people from the registrar’s office and members of the student council go on and on about how awesome everything was and so much of it just flying past the ears of the audience.

Back then, she’d muddled through her first couple of weeks until she’d managed to either remember a little bit of what had been thrown at her or managed to figure out some of it on her own.

She really, really hoped she’d be able to do the same this time.

TO BE CONTINUED…

Enjoying CORPORATE SYNERGIES?  Check out my full-length novel that involves fewer douche-bags, Radko’s War!